An uplifting experience

Liz tells us her tinnitus story and how technology has helped her experience something truly life-changing

"I was diagnosed with left-sided Ménière's disease thirty years ago. One of the earliest symptoms was a low pitched tinnitus.

Ten years ago my Ménière's became bi-lateral with tinnitus both sides. The usual low pitched hum was joined by other prolonged spells of high pitched excruciatingly loud noise which started in my sleep. I would wake in the early hours terrified by the loud clanging of metal gates, factory machinery, air brakes, train engines, and similar.

I also developed hyperacusis (noise sensitivity) which others find difficult to understand - how can a person with hearing loss hear noises that cause them such acute physical pain and distress?

I dread hearing tests because the higher pitched sounds really 'hurt'.

My hearing deteriorated and I was given hearing aids and a masking device.

My hearing then deteriorated further and I was given hearing aids that incorporated a programme of soothing sounds to help me.

Earlier this year I realised I could barely hear with or without hearing aids. A hearing test confirmed further deterioration in both ears and my hearing aids were reprogrammed.

For many years I have missed listening to the radio or my collection of operatic & classical music. Unlike TV there are no subtitles and no pause or rewind facility to replay an item 10 times until I can fathom out what was said! Regular ear phones are not an option for me - it would be impossible to avoid sudden loud or high pitched sounds.

Hearing loss is a lonely road and tinnitus is impossible for non-sufferers to comprehend.

It was by chance that I tried AfterShokz bone conduction headphones. My daughter had recently bought a pair to use for business calls.

How to describe my joy at hearing speech and music clearly? I don't even remember a time when I could hear that well.

It was a remarkable and uplifting experience and I am astonished and delighted every time I use them, truly life changing. Thank you."

Interested in AfterShokz bone conduction headphones?

Please visit our safe and secure online shop for our range of AfterShokz headphones. As we are a charity, buying from us means that any surplus funds help support the work that we do for people living with tinnitus.

AfterShokz Headphones

Comments (0)

Comment (maximum 3500 characters) *

Add a picture

Add a video

Notify me when someone makes a comment

First name *

Last name *

Email *

Which country do you live in?

Please enter your postcode*

Address line 1

Address line 2

Town or city

The BTA depends on the trust and support of the UK tinnitus community to continue our work. We try to minimize the personal data we collect from you and be transparent in how we use it. We never sell or trade your data to other organizations.

To provide updates on tinnitus and the BTA's work

Notifying you of fundraising activities which support the BTA's work

For updates to our catalogue of tinnitus management products

Sending you the BTA member's magazine, "Quiet"

Via email

Via telephone

Via SMS

Via post

Which country do you live in?

Please enter your postcode*

Address line 1

Address line 2

Town or city

By submitting this form you are agreeing to our terms and conditions

Using our shop Thank you for considering purchasing items from the British Tinnitus Association (BTA). We’re confident you will find the items we stock satisfactory, however if you do not, these Terms and Conditions cover our conditions of sale and return. Terms and conditions ‘you’ or ‘your’ means the person ordering the product or products ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’ means the British Tinnitus Association (BTA) Products and orders Orders will be dispatched to you on receipt of payment. If an ordered item is out of stock we will try to contact you. If we cannot provide you with the products you have ordered, we will give you the option to cancel, place an alternative order or wait until the products are in stock. We will only process your payment when the products are packed and ready for sending. We may change or substitute the exact details of products at any time. We will try to tell you of changes that affect your order before we send them to you. We will give you the option to cancel your order. Products can be returned within the 28 day money-back guarantee. Price and payment Prices shown include the cost of postage and packing. We may change prices at any time, but we will tell you about any change in the prices of products you have ordered. We will give you the option to cancel your order. Cancellation before goods are received If you wish to cancel an order please tell us no later than 5 working days after the date you placed the order. If you cancel by telephone we will also need written confirmation from you. We will refund the full cost of the order if we receive cancellation within 5 working days after the date you placed the order. If we receive cancellation after the order has been dispatched the goods must be returned to us. The cost of posting the order back to us will be refunded to you. Products can be returned within our 28 day money-back guarantee (please see below). Delivery For orders placed within the UK: We will endeavour to deliver your products to the address you gave us on your order within 10 working days of your order All orders will be posted by 2nd class Royal Mail If you do not receive your products within 10 working days of the date of order you must tell us immediately and no later than 15 working days after the order date If goods are lost in transit we will send you new products or offer you a full refund after 15 working days from your order date For orders placed for delivery outside the UK, they will be posted by Royal Mail Airmail, and delivery times cannot be guaranteed. Shortages, damaged or faulty goods If the products you receive are damaged in transit, faulty or there is a shortage of products you must let us know by telephoning us or in writing within seven days of receiving the products. Damaged or faulty goods must be returned to us with a filled-in returns form enclosed with the product. We will send you replacement products on receipt of the damaged goods and will refund you the cost of postage in returning the products to us. Money-back guarantee on delivery of goods We have a 28-day money-back guarantee with the following condition: Goods must be returned in ‘as new’ condition with their original packaging and the instruction sheets. A filled-in returns form must be returned with the goods. We will exchange the product or refund the cost of the product. We will not refund the cost of postage in returning goods under the money-back guarantee. If you return the products that are not ‘as new’ or outside the money-back guarantee we may refuse to give you a refund or may charge you a handling fee. The guarantee does not apply: if you have used the products other than to assess whether the product is satisfactory or if the products have been used incorrectly Returns All returns must be sent with a filled in returns form otherwise we may not be able to process your return quickly or at all. We are not responsible for any products you return until we receive them. We recommend you get proof, from the post office, that you have posted the products onto us. We will try to process returns within 10 working days of receiving them. If products are returned by Royal Mail it can take up to 15 working days for returns to reach us. Risk and ownership You are legally responsible for products you have ordered and have paid for in full as soon as you receive them.

Latest

Kingston upon Thames Hospital
Audify

Find out more about our corporate member Audify
Stockport Tinnitus Support Group

New group coming in September!
Cardigan Hard of Hearing & Tinnitus Support Group

What's the real story?

Recent headlines told us “New breakthrough pill could cure tinnitus.” This is game changing news if true – so what’s the real story behind the headline?
BSA Annual Conference: some thoughts

David Stockdale recently attended the British Society of Audiology Annual Conference - here's some of his highlights from a tinnitus perspective
ESIT training school

With Nic Wray, I attended the ESIT training school in Milan. Read our thoughts about it here.
More people living with tinnitus than previously thought

The number of people living with tinnitus in the UK is higher than previously thought.
Tinnitus Expo 2019!

The Tinnitus Expo is back for 2019!
BTA Annual Conference 2019

The BTA Annual Conference 2019 will take place on September 13th at Goldsmiths University in London. Tickets are on sale now.
Isolation: The ‘hidden epidemic’ affecting people with tinnitus

The warning of a ‘hidden epidemic’ of isolation amongst the estimated six million people living with the condition in the UK. Read more here.
FOCUS your e-newsletter

Sign up to our new monthly e-newsletter called Focus
Pete's Big Swim

A big thank you to Peter, who completed his 100 mile swim challenge in 2018. Find out more about his challenge.
Share Your Story

Can you help us raise the profile of tinnitus in the press, by sharing your story? Please find out more here.